G-Prep turns up defense for win
As quarters go, Gonzaga Prep coach Mike Arte found it tough to think of a better 8 minutes – at least this season.
“It was our best defensive quarter of the year,” he said after his Bullpups rode the momentum of a near-perfect second quarter to a convincing 54-32 win over the host Mead Panthers on Tuesday night.
“In fact,” Arte continued, “from the end of the first quarter to the end of the game, they only scored 18 points.”
The Pups defense – and Mead’s corresponding inability to put the ball in the basket – was never better than the final 8:18 before halftime.
It started with a bomb. Mead’s Nikki Nelson nailed a 22-footer with 18 seconds left in the first quarter – part of her team-high 11 points – to give the Panthers (7-3 overall, 2-1 in the GSL) a 14-13 lead – their last.
That’s because Tara Cronin’s driving layup 14 seconds later gave the Pups (8-2, 2-1) the lead back, and the momentum.
Over the next 480 seconds, the Panthers managed just 10 shots. They hit one – Kami Clark’s follow of her missed free throw.
The Bullpups were quick to take advantage, as Cronin swept the boards (she had 10 of her 16 rebounds by halftime), keying G-Prep’s fast break. All five of G-Prep’s second-quarter hoops came on layups.
“That was basically the turning point,” said Cronin, who tied teammate Sarah Jennings for game-high scoring honors with 18. “We stepped our defense up a level, got the game going at our pace and they couldn’t catch up.”
Mead wasn’t playing with a full arsenal.
The Panthers started without leading scorer Kelli Valentine, a 6-foot center averaging 10.8 points per game, who was missing her second consecutive contest because of illness. Then Megan Thigpen, at 5-9 the next tallest Panther, picked up two fouls in the first 3:32 and sat the rest of the half.
Still, with G-Prep executing its offense almost perfectly in the opening half – the Pups had two turnovers at halftime (none in the second quarter) despite point guard Corrina O’Brien sitting a long stretch with two fouls – and holding its own on the boards, Mead was fighting an uphill battle.
“The key for us is how well we rebound,” said Arte, who starts a lineup with only one player (Cronin) taller than 5-8. “Tonight we took care of the boards after the first quarter. We have to if we want to be successful.”
“That’s like, crucial,” Cronin, a junior, said of the Pups’ rebounding efforts. “If I rebound, then I can get the ball to Corinna, and she can pass it to Sarah for layups.”
That’s exactly what happened four times, as Jennings, known for her long-range shooting, scored 10 points in the paint. Her 18 points were a season high.
Mead tried to rally, but the basket just seemed to be closed, as the Panthers shot 22 percent in the final three quarters.
Clark was typical, with the 5-9 junior forward, filling in inside for Valentine, hustled her way to 12 rebounds, including five on the offensive glass. But she was able to convert just 3 of 11 shots.
Add in 20 forced turnovers and the Pups’ defense was the key, as it’s been all year, according to Arte.
“I think we get a little underappreciated because we are so small,” the veteran coach said. “But boy, are we tough out there. I think that showed tonight.”
But the road to the playoffs is also tough, and the biggest prize, a state berth, is even tougher, with only three schools from Eastern Washington earning a ticket to the state 4A tournament this year.
Just don’t expect Arte to look that far, not after only three league games.
“There are plenty of hard league games still out there,” he said. “This league is a war, night in and night out.”
Lewis and Clark 68, Shadle Park 51
As has been the case all season, the Tigers (9-0, 3-0) broke out to a big early lead and coasted from there. Heather Bowman led the way with 20 points and Katelyn Redmon added 17 as LC shot 50 percent from inside the 3-point arc. The host Highlanders (6-4, 1-2) were paced by Lexi Bishop’s 20 points, including 10 of 12 from the free-throw line.
Clarkston 55, Cheney 44
In a key 3A battle, the Bantams (5-4, 2-1) rallied in the second quarter and held of the visiting Blackhawks (4-6, 0-3). Misty Atkinson led the Bantams with 18 points but it was Kayla McCann who had a career night, with career highs in points (13) and rebounds (11). Cheney had 22 turnovers.
Central Valley 69, Ferris 41
The host Bears stayed perfect in the GSL (3-0 and 7-4 overall) by being nearly perfect from the line (88 percent) while hitting 49 percent from the field. Heidi Heintz, averaging 19.3 points coming in, scored a season-high 26 to pace CV. Lexi Lallas was the only Saxons player (4-6, 1-2) in double figures with 14.
Mt. Spokane 63, North Central 41
The Wildcats evened their overall record at 5-5 (2-1 in GSL) behind the 10 points and seven assists of Averi Hallman, one of four Wildcats in double figures. Callie Bergstrom grabbed eight rebounds for Mt. Spokane. The visiting Indians (3-7, 1-2) were paced by Ashlee Michelson’s 12 points.
East Valley 54, Rogers 45
The visiting Knights (5-5, 1-2) jumped out to a 15-4 in the first quarter and held off a Pirates fourth-quarter rally. Elise Olk (11 points) was the lone EV player in double figures, as 10 Knights scored. Denisha Whitehead led a Rogers (2-8, 0-3) fourth-quarter rally with 10 of her game-high 15 points before fouling out. D’Erica Jones added 13 points and eight rebounds.
University 78, West Valley 17
The host Titans (8-2, 3-0) jumped ahead 27-4 after one quarter and coasted behind Angie Bjorklund’s 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Tonya Schnibbe added 16 points and seven assists. West Valley dropped to 1-9 and 0-3.